A group of Japanese lawyers unveiled documents Monday "indicting" U.S. President George W. Bush for
war crimes allegedly committed against the Afghan people since the United States-led coalition
began its antiterrorism campaign in Afghanistan in October 2001.

"This is an act that breaks international rules, such as the idea of (honoring) human rights, that
have been formed over so many years," said Koken Tsuchiya, former president of the Japan Federation
of Bar Associations and head of the 11-member prosecutors' team in the tribunal. "We decided this
case has sufficient reason to be brought to court."

A civic tribunal will be held in Tokyo, with the first hearing scheduled for July 21.

The charges against Bush, according to the indictment, include aggression, attacks against
civilians and nonmilitary facilities and the torturing and execution of prisoners.

They said the indictment will be handed to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo next week.

The tribunal is being organized by Tokyo Zokei University professor Akira Maeda and others.

Here is the full text of the article in case the link goes bad:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20030701b3.htm

Bush 'indicted' over war crimes

A group of Japanese lawyers unveiled documents Monday "indicting" U.S. President George W. Bush for war crimes allegedly committed against the Afghan people since the United States-led coalition began its antiterrorism campaign in Afghanistan in October 2001.

"This is an act that breaks international rules, such as the idea of (honoring) human rights, that have been formed over so many years," said Koken Tsuchiya, former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and head of the 11-member prosecutors' team in the tribunal. "We decided this case has sufficient reason to be brought to court."

A civic tribunal will be held in Tokyo, with the first hearing scheduled for July 21.

The charges against Bush, according to the indictment, include aggression, attacks against civilians and nonmilitary facilities and the torturing and execution of prisoners.

They said the indictment will be handed to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo next week.

The tribunal is being organized by Tokyo Zokei University professor Akira Maeda and others.

CNN and Maria Hinojosa really came through yesterday with a slice of truth from the NY Protests that went on all day yesterday.

CNN seems particularly sensitive to accusations of the "popular media" not covering the protests properly. As a result, CNN seems to be making an extra effort to get a little real news in between the talking heads that don't say anythiing being constantly rebroadcast on all of the other news channels.

Thanks CNN. Thank you, Maria Hinojosa! Keep up the good work! Can this be the same CNN that put a stop to Kevin Sites' War Blog!

Maria Hinojosa: "Your 75 years old. Why are you taking to the streets even though the War is well under way."

Harriet: "It's not a "War" that's under way. It's a "massacre" that's under way. An "invasion" that's under way...They've already given out contracts for the reconstruction to companies like Halliburton..."

Maria Hinojosa: "Do you think that the politicians in Washington will be moved by the tens of thousands of people that have come out into the streets here in New York and in other cities around the world?

Harriet: "King Bush. The resident of the White House, says he doesn't listen to anybody. And it's true. He may not. But we've got to keep coming out. And it may slow them down a little, but not much. That doesn't matter. We're going to get America back -- for the people."

An estimated 5,000 demonstrators, the majority of them schoolchildren, thronged the streets to voice their anger against today's US air strikes on Iraq.

The protesters were responding to a call by the UK anti-war movement for workers and students to stage a mass walkout from offices, schools and colleges.

Describing the outbreak of hostilities as a "day of shame", the Stop the War Coalition said that it hoped to draw on the public feeling that saw more than 1 million people take to the streets of London last month.

Stop the War spokesman Andrew Burgin said: "We call upon the people of Britain to act today in support of peace by walking out from work, school or college to join protest meetings and peace demonstrations in their community against this unjust war."

...Flordete Iveson, 18, who attends Latimer School in Edmonton, north London, said: "We don't want our name associated with this war. Our government doesn't care what we think. I don't think I have a right to speak out against the war unless I'm here to protest."

In Cambridge, around 300 demonstrators stopped traffic during a sit-down protest and formed a "ring of peace" around market stalls.

Sara Payne, the co-chairman of Campeace, who was with her two-year-old granddaughter Dorothy, said: "We have consistently opposed what we see as this illegal attack on Iraq: it does not have the authority of the UN.

"The UN was set up to protect future generations from the scourge of war. Tony Blair is a war criminal."

Here is the full text of the article in case the link goes bad:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,918039,00.html

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Thousands Protest as Conflict Begins
Guardian UK

Thursday 20 March 2003

Tensions rose as police tried to control the mass of anti-war protesters gathering in Parliament Square today.

An estimated 5,000 demonstrators, the majority of them schoolchildren, thronged the streets to voice their anger against today's US air strikes on Iraq.

The protesters were responding to a call by the UK anti-war movement for workers and students to stage a mass walkout from offices, schools and colleges.

Describing the outbreak of hostilities as a "day of shame", the Stop the War Coalition said that it hoped to draw on the public feeling that saw more than 1 million people take to the streets of London last month.

Stop the War spokesman Andrew Burgin said: "We call upon the people of Britain to act today in support of peace by walking out from work, school or college to join protest meetings and peace demonstrations in their community against this unjust war."

But what began as a peaceful demonstration grew more heated as 100 youngsters staged a sit-in in front of the Houses of Parliament, blocking traffic.

A further 60 lay down on the ground, refusing police pleas to disperse, and were forcibly moved, some with several officers dragging them away. Fellow protesters stood behind them chanting "Leave the kids alone!" and "Stop the war!"

As protesters tried to force their way through metal barriers surrounding the square, they were pushed back by cordons of police.

Some demonstrators hurled plastic bottles, stones and coins at police, and one officer was seen punching a protester in the face.

Flordete Iveson, 18, who attends Latimer School in Edmonton, north London, said: "We don't want our name associated with this war. Our government doesn't care what we think. I don't think I have a right to speak out against the war unless I'm here to protest."

In Cambridge, around 300 demonstrators stopped traffic during a sit-down protest and formed a "ring of peace" around market stalls.

Sara Payne, the co-chairman of Campeace, who was with her two-year-old granddaughter Dorothy, said: "We have consistently opposed what we see as this illegal attack on Iraq: it does not have the authority of the UN.

"The UN was set up to protect future generations from the scourge of war. Tony Blair is a war criminal."

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament also urged Britons to protest against the "illegal, immoral war". CND called on campaigners to gather outside Downing Street at 6pm with whistles and drums, and to make as much noise as possible. The group also encouraged British soldiers to disobey orders and refrain from entering combat.

CND chairman Carol Naughton said: "Crimes against humanity will be perpetrated in this bloody war.

"We will support any members of the military who refuse to carry out an order that would cause death or suffering to civilians. That is their individual right and I hope they will use it."

The Muslim Council of Britain, which fears that military action against Saddam Hussein will sour relations between Britain and Muslim countries, condemned the outbreak of war and said it was a "black day in our history".

A statement from five aid agencies in Britain called for coalition forces to take "all possible precautions" to avoid civilian casualties in Iraq, and demanded extra funding to rebuild the country after war.

Naked demonstrations are becoming a regular event for Australian women.

Some 450 Australian women were recently in the news over plans to hold a naked rain dance and more recently, another group of 300 Australian women have staged a war protest in the buff on a Sydney sports field, where they spelled out "No War" with their bodies.

Anti-war nudity may be catching on: some 300 men and women also got naked for peace in Santiago, Chile, where they stripped in a public park over the weekend, and several hundred Australian men spelt out "Peace, man" with their bodies last week in NSW.

Several of the weekend's Chilean protesters, presumably clothed, were later arrested following a march from the park to the presidential palace.

Home » Australia » More naked Australian women
More naked Australian women

Naked demonstrations are becoming a regular event for Australian women.

Some 450 Australian women were recently in the news over plans to hold a naked rain dance and more recently, another group of 300 Australian women have staged a war protest in the buff on a Sydney sports field, where they spelled out "No War" with their bodies.

Anti-war nudity may be catching on: some 300 men and women also got naked for peace in Santiago, Chile, where they stripped in a public park over the weekend, and several hundred Australian men spelt out "Peace, man" with their bodies last week in NSW.

Several of the weekend's Chilean protesters, presumably clothed, were later arrested following a march from the park to the presidential palace.

In Vancouver, Canada, a group calling itself Artists Against War has been staging smaller rallies in the buff at odd intervals, according to the Vancouver Sun

In Sydney, however, the demonstrations -- to propitiate the rain gods and antagonise the Howard government -- were peaceful and police-protected.

According to AP stories, several hundred protesters later gathered outside Prime Minister Howard's official residence.

The story of Australia's naked activists is gathering momentum and scale as it filters out through the media. South Africa's Sabre News is running a Reuters story that says a thousand women joined to spell out the No War slogan on the Sydney sports field.

It's not the first time Australian women have stripped for peace, actually. AP reports about 750 NSW women stripped and assembled an anti-war slogan with their bodies at the beginning of February.
03-Mar-2003

Feb. 14, 2003: At Least 150,000 Protest in Melbourne, Australia, Against
Possible War with Iraq (AP)

Students display a placard during a rally against a possible war in Iraq
at the Friedensplatz, or Peace Square, in the western German city of
Dortmund on Friday, Feb. 14, 2003. A hundred thousands are expected in
Berlin on Feb. 15 (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Children shout slogans during an anti-war march which ended at the
Foreign Office in Madrid, Spain Thursday Feb. 13, 2003. Sticker on
banner reads 'No to the imperialist Aggression in Iraq'. Tens of
thousands rallied in Madrid and Barcelona. (AP Photo/Paul White).

750 nude women form a heart around the words 'No War' on a hillside near
the town of Byron bay, 700 kilometers (435 miles) north of Sydney,
Australia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003. The women said they wanted to send
Prime Minister John Howard a message to recall Australian troops from
the middle east. (AP Photo/Icon Images)

About 30 naked women lay down in the snow in Central Park forming the
words 'No Bush' in an event described as a 'nude political action photo
shoot' in New York on February 7, 2003. The protestors are opposed to
U.S. President George Bush's policies and possible U.S. led war against
Iraq. REUTERS/Peter Morgan

A Filipino woman clenches her fist while shouting anti-government
slogans during a rally in Manila February 7, 2003. The protesters
demanded that the United States resolve its dispute with Iraq through
diplomacy instead of resorting to military action. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

Irish Army Called in to Defend US War Planes from Protestors.

Another 5 go airside in Ploughshares action at Shannon Airport.

IndyMedia Ireland, February 3, 2003.

SPANISH ACTIVISTS TARGET GAS STATIONS

A group of peace activists tied together surround a British Petroleum
(BP) petrol station in Barcelona, Spain to protest against the possible
war and invasion of Iraq by the United States and Britain, February 4,
2003. 100 cities in the US participated in the action. REUTERS/Miquel
Perales

Greenpeace members inflate a balloon emblazoned with a peace message
outside Australia's Parliament House in Canberra February 4, 2003.
Hundreds of anti-war protesters gathered in Canberra as Prime Minister
John Howard began an emotional debate over the government's staunch
support for the tough U.S. stance on Iraq. With a fresh opinion poll
showing overwhelming opposition to Australian participation in a
U.S.-led war on Iraq, Howard canceled regular debate as parliament
returned from summer recess to explain his backing for Washington.
(Graham Tidy, Canberra Times/Reuters)

Fifteen members of the American organization Women for Peace demonstrate
in Baghdad against the war in Iraq, February 3, 2003 (Marwan Noamani,
AFP).

Greenpeace Activists in the Rainbow Warrior Block British Military Port
in Iraq Protest, January 27, 2003

Dozens of people block Fifth Avenue at Craig with a "Die-In," a human
representation of the potential casualties in a U.S.-Iraq war. The
Regional Convergence Against the War drew several thousand people to
Oakland [PITTSBURGH] in sub-freezing weather to protest against a
possible U.S.-Iraq conflict -- the largest anti-war crowd in Pittsburgh
since the Vietnam War. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Ed Bortz, of Fineview, questions the influence of big oil on politics
while protesting the potential war against Iraq during the Parade for
Peace on the South Side of Pittsburgh yesterday (January 25, 2003). More
than a thousand anti-war protestors marched yesterday. (Photo Martha
Rial/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

A U.S. Park Police Officer secures a fence from Anti-war protesters in
Lafayette Park near the White House in Washington, January 19, 2003, as
part of a march against the U.S. going to war with Iraq. Sixteen
protesters were arrested for breaking through police lines.
REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Anti-war protesters climb over a fence in Lafayette Park near the White
House in Washington, January 19, 2003, as part of a march against the
U.S. going to war with Iraq. Sixteen protesters were arrested for
breaking through police lines. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Demonstrators lie on the ground as police officers search and arrest
them during an antiwar protest, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, in Washington.
Several hundred demonstrators, mostly college students, rallied near the
Justice Department (news - web sites) on Sunday to protest the possible
war with Iraq and 'racist witch hunts' by U.S. authorities following the
terrorist attacks. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A Muslim Turkish woman joins some 2,000 Turks protesting a possible U.S.
military operation against neighboring Iraq, in Ankara on Sunday, Jan.
19, 2003, hours before Gen. Richard Myers, Chairman of the U. S. Joint
Chief of Staff, arrives for a meeting Monday with the head of Turkey's
army, Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. The polls show that 80 percent of Turks are
against a war in Iraq. The banner reads: 'No to war for freedom.'.(AP
Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

A woman carries a poster with a 'Bush wanted' slogan in an anti-war
demonstration in central Brussels, January 19, 2003. Thousands of people
around the world took part this week-end in protests to try to prevent a
possible U.S conflict against Iraq. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Irish anti-war protesters occupy the roof of a building during an
anti-war rally at Shannon Airport in southwest Ireland, January 18,
2003. Protesters opposed to a possibe war in Iraq took part in a
demonstration at the airport today against the use of the civilian
airport by U.S. military. REUTERS/Paul McErlane

Egyptian riot police and anti-war demonstrators face off Saturday, Jan.
18, 2003, in Cairo, Egypt. Protesters held banners reading, at top,
'Iraq .. Another war for oil and American supremacy,' and beneath it,
one calling for the lifting of unjust U.N. sanctions against Iraq. The
anti-war demonstration was one of many being held around the world
Saturday. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Pakistani peace activists hold a rally in Karachi, January 18, 2003. The
anti-war committee, a group of various NGO's, organized the rally to
protest against possible U.S. action against Iraq. REUTERS/Zahid Hussein

Over 200 people from Colorado marched in Washington DC on January 18,
2003, under this banner from activists in Telluride, Colorado.

An estimated crowd of 500,000 marched in Washington DC on January 18,
2003 (ANSWER photo).

Crowds estimated at 80,000 fill the civic center of San Francisco,
California on in an anti-war protest, January 18, 2003. Thousands
marched on Washington and San Francisco and at smaller protests in
Chicago and Tampa, Florida, in what organizers said was the largest
showing of U.S. anti-war sentiment since President George W. Bush
started making his case for attacking Iraq last year. REUTERS/Susan
Ragan

Dutch civil inspectors search for nuclear weapons at US Base, January
18, 2003

Anti-war protesters march past the U.S. Capitol during the start of an
anti-war protest that will culminate by a march to the Washington Naval
Yard, Saturday Jan. 18, 2003 in Washington. Protesters rallied by the
thousands in the bitter cold of Washington on Saturday and in capitals
worldwide in a passionate show of dissent against war with Iraq. (AP
Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Human Peace Sign from Antarctica, January 19, 2003.

Today people from McMurdo Station in Antarctica joined with the millions
of others around the world in calling for peace not war. With the
Antarctic Mt Range in the background we laid on the ice in a symbolic
call for peace. Seven continents united.

Left to right, Native American Floyd Red Crow Westerman, famed protest
singer Joan Baez, actor Martin Sheen and Reverend Cecil Williams of the
Glide Church join the anti-war protest in San Franciso on January 18,
2003. Hundreds of thousands of Americans opposed to waging war in Iraq
rallied on Saturday in several cities demanding the White House back
down and give U.N. weapons inspectors a chance. REUTERS/David Paul
Morris

Anti-war protest in Scotland, as a British Army ship leaves to the Gulf
sea (Reuters, Jan.13, 2003).

A protestor dressed in camouflage holds a sign reading 'Human Blood
$1.09 per gallon' as he joins others during a march against a possible
war with Iraq Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, in Los Angeles. (Photo/Damian
Dovarganes)

Hundreds Are Detained After Visits to INS: Thousands protest arrests of
Mideast boys and men who complied with order to register. Kami Fallan
wears handcuffs during a demonstration that drew an estimated 3,000 to
the Federal Building in Westwood. December 19, 2002.

Cardboard coffins with children's pictures are displayed during an
anti-war demonstration in front of the Federal Building in Oakland,
California on December 10, 2002. Anti-Iraq attack demonstrators rallied
across the U.S. with protests ranging from a letter from Hollywood
celebrities to a pot-banging march to the White House. The protests were
some of the most widespread demonstrations against the ongoing U.S.
military buildup around Iraq, with organizers holding events in about
120 towns and cities Photo by Susan Ragan/Reuters

Several hundred college and high-school students walked out of classes
and met at Seattle Central Community College, then marched downtown to
demonstrate against a possible war with Iraq, December 6, 2002. ROD
MAR / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Some of the activists wore bandages and bloody clothes to depict the
consequences a war would have on Iraqi civilians.

Peace marchers walk through downtown Sydney on November 30. About 15,000
demonstrators marched through Australia's largest city to protest
possible pre-emptive military strikes against Iraq. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Tens of thousands of flag-waving, whistle-blowing protesters march
through the streets of Florence, November 9, 2002 to denounce a possible
U.S.-led war against Iraq. More than half a million anti-war protesters
from across Europe marched through this Italian Renaissance city in a
loud and colorful demonstration denouncing any possible U.S. attack on
Iraq. (Andrea Comas/Reuters)

An anti-globalization activist holds a banner reading 'Bush, Blair,
Berlusconi, murderers, stop this war' as she takes part in a massive
demonstration during the first European Social Forum, in Florence
November 9, 2002. Angered by U.N. moves against Iraq and fired with
anti-Americanism, some 150,000 protesters marched through Florence on
Saturday in what organizers called the first Europe-wide anti-war rally.
REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

Anti-globalization activists shout slogans as they take part in a
massive demonstration during the first European Social Forum in
Florence, November 9, 2002. Tens of thousands of flag-waving,
whistle-blowing protesters march through the streets of Florence to
denounce a possible U.S.-led war against Iraq. Fired with
anti-Americanism and angered by a tough new United Nations resolution on
Iraq, well over 400,000 people from across Europe joined the
demonstration, holding aloft a sea of rainbow-colored, multi-lingual
banners. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

Pakistan: Pakistanis are protesting against possible U.S. attacks on
Iraq in Multan, Pakistan on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002. They chanted
anti-US slogans and asked United Nations to intervene.

(Photo/Khalid Tanveer)

Filipino Muslims pray outside the U.S. embassy in Manila, November 6,
2002 during a protest rally to denounce a possible U.S. strike on Iraq.
The protest marks the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in
the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines, the scene of recent bomb attacks
blamed on Islamic radicals, which killed 14 people. REUTERS/Erik de
Castro

Demonstrators carrying banners and posters march through central Madrid
in protest against a possible war against Iraq, October 27, 2002.
Thousands of anti-war protesters marched peacefully to express
opposition to a possible U.S.-led attack on Iraq, a day after massive
peace rallies in Washington, San Francisco, Berlin, and Amsterdam.
Posters read ' Peace, Aznar, servile. Go to your war' and 'Oil war.
Blood for oil.' REUTERS/Andrea Comas

Anti-war protester Sana Malik stands with a sign during a demonstration
in Washington D.C. against a possible U.S. attack on Iraq, October 26,
2002. Protesters hope as many as 100,000 people will converge on the
U.S. capital for the anti-war message. (Eliana Aponte/Reuters)

I've posted a two movies clips I took at the anti-war parade in Shibuya. The first one is a 1.7MB QT movie of the Japanese drummers and the second one is a
780K QT movie of the big black flags of the anarchics waving in the air walking down Koendori in front of the Marui department store. I imagined that we were marching for the overthrow of the Japanese government for a moment. ;-)

it was fullmoon night in Tokyo. variety of people gathered in Tokyo's most
fasionable Shibuya area, did war protest parade on Sat night. there were
really different people. univ students, union member types to artist types
such as actors. street drummers kept dancing. many foreigners included. my
estimate was about 10k people.

Now, citizens all over the country stand up against U.S. tyranical warmonger. On Jan. 18, over a million people cried "No to Attack on IRAQ" in more than 40 countries. In Japan, about 7,000 citizens of various fields and generations participated WORLD PEACE NOW Jan. 18 at Hibiya park in Tokyo. There were also same kind of joint actions in about 30 cities in Japan. TV and news paper reported anti war joint actions in Japan and world scale.

In spite of anti war actions spreading worldwide, U.S. attack on IRAQ is drawing to a crisis day by day. Therefore Stop the War Coalition in London called for world-wide day of demonstrations on 15 February against the prospect of war. We support this appeal and will hold acitons for peace to protest against U.S. war drive and its supporter; Koizumi government in Japan.